Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-08-30
icopJhshi. issi. " Ai~ooi& fsftssl
THE GOOD OLD TIMES OF A
CENTURY AGO.
BY Jup0E G. +. WmIrNAN.
Chapter SXIH.
CONCLUSION.

Three year. wen, by. and during thi'
time the Taylofs and SsiPe' had pros.
perrd. samuel. 10 the mean time. had
purchased . ir.e, Of land TO the vest
ward Of Jacobs lo,. And built a large,
roomy los house. with floors and win
dow.. chimney through the center. with
large. open fireplace in each room.
lie omitted one lhing ,ha, al the other
settlers Invariably had, Aad that ~s' the
hor.e.shoc over the outer door. TO dive
wi,ehe, OF evil spirits away. lie had
no s.ih 10 anything Of the Kind. aud
no, being suPcr,iilous. he refused to
seem to accord with them in such ideas
and matters.
lie had begaL the clearing Of bis lot.
and building the second year after their
moving iu. Ills fr, care bad been TO
see Jacob well started in life. a. ha had
a family TO provide fo', aud when that
was done he nes, began his own work.
What with hi, cares fot Others; his look
ing after the money iniru,ied TO him for
Investment; and hi, management OF the
financial Affair. Of Mr.. Hooper. VITO had
made him bis agent; Tommy "eonmoa
school education" and ,hA, also u Js-
cob's boy, he found Les, time TO devote to
HI. osn Interests, than he desired. The
matter Was more essential With Tommy,
since Il had been determined ,hs, he
should take the uniysri,y course a. Har.
ward.
New settlers had moved in. the isni'
lies Of Jacob .nd SwiPe, hal increased
and there were interests Of a general NJ
,urc in the community. TO look after.
These all feii TO hi. care 20 provide for
No, ,hA, Others diln't help, but Samuel
va, looked to to star, and oversee what
ever Of ,hi. Kind VA, done. school,
and religious meetings must be provided
for. A place to hold them in, aud some
one 10 eondue, the services. lie had
acted a. sshOol.mAs,er ior the larger chill
dren. though he had not held regular 'e'-
sion, Of school. Of rainy days when the
element. were no, too fariou, on, OF door'.
and in the evenings, when be could a..
tend 10 Il. lie looked forward TO the
time when = school would be established
in the settlement and they could regular
IL have religious meetings Now !, may
De though, surprising iha, he should take
any ia,sres, in having religion. mseting'.
lie had changed hi, views in regatd TO
such things. lie felt and Acknowledged
the dependence Of man uPoa God' and
be saw that community without rcll'
sioa. teachings would no; bear eomP.ii'
son with those that had. In all that goes
10 make up IDEAL society. lie reeosnil-
ed the fact thA, man Is religious being,
and for the lack Of proper religious eal'
,ure is pretty sure TO fall into superstition
and savage customs. Better then. he
reasoned, 20 have proper instruction IN
such matters while youug, and grow uP
feeling = Dependence on the Supreme
Being OF the universe. They mus, have
religion. meetings thea. but, from the
fac, Of the settlement, being made up ex'
clu.iyely Of the ,illers OF the soil. aud
would never grow into n village, be did
no, see any way 10 have a church built
and = regular pastor established. His
house therefore, had beea made expressly
for the purpose Of holding meetings. and
having schools In IL. |, faced to the east,
with the living room In The south end.
Unlike the other house. ia the ss,t!emen,
there were two good room, overhead.
IL had been the determination OF hi.
life that he would never .ccep. oih;e
and position. Ia the army he had rsfas.
ed promotion. though be could have rise n
high had he sOugh, advancement. lie
saw the struggle for promotion nnd place
among a class Of men who were his infe-
riors in every respect. lie saw otiicer'
assigned To positions they were iseompe-
tent T. fll. lie saw men given high
places Of trust, iha, their efforts nigh,
b. enlisted on the side Of their county,
when they should have been eonien,ed to
serve in the ranks, or anywhere IL a: the
same time they were only doing their do.
ty and promoting the grea, cause OF free.
dom. Then and there he settled for all
time for himself. the question Of life. II
was necessary for some to serve 10 the
ranks, TO carry the muske,. TO bear hard
ships such rs no others were called upon
10 experience and wiihou, Ill which, In.
dependence never could be attained. Tc
make the common soldier respected And
honored, was his ain and purpose. he
inspired this feeling In others, and Ia his
eonduc. and bearing. Ia the camp. on the
march and in battle. he won the res pee
and confidence Of bis superior officers
Indeed. they often went to him for coun'
eel snd advice, and would gladly have
recommended his promotion. ba, he would
not consent.
"why Is there no. glory 10 living
life Of da,y-A common man among com
mon men." he often asked himself. III
had won all the rsspsc, aHd conflence
from men high In position that he cared
for, and II dAwned upon him that As
simple citizen he could also make ih'
common man respected and honored
One nigh, as well be looked up to in on
station as another. besides. position doe
no, always command respect, but whsI
the common man Is looked up to. rsspsc'
and confidence must Of necessity follov
l There was one office. however. that b
did no, refuse. A commission ~ juslic'
OF the peace. was granted him for tn
purpose ofexscutins deeds and such docu
msnts ~ would be essential for the tran